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Tories announce plans to close Remploy factories by Christmas

Unions have reacted with anger at the news 27 Remploy factories are to close before Christmas, with the loss of 2,800 jobs.

The government yesterday announced in the House of Commons the closures would begin next month and be complete by December. The remaining nine factories are subject to a further period of consultation regarding their future.

GMB national secretary Phil Davies said: “We are very angry with the government’s confirmation that it will close 27 Remploy factories in the first wave by December with the rest to follow shortly afterwards. To close these factories that employs disabled people in the present economic climate is a sentence to life of unemployment and poverty.

“The planned strikes will go ahead on July 19th and 26th and should be a rallying point giving each local community the opportunity to stand behind these disabled workers who will be facing the scrap heap.”

Unite national officer Kevin Hepworth said: “Remploy workers will be taking strike action to defend their jobs as the axe is wielded by the government. By taking strike action they are trying to avoid their certain destiny of being chucked on the economic scrapheap. They deserve the support of all trade unionists and the public in Britain.”